We had Thanksgiving at Marlboro Man’s parents’ house, and it was a beautiful day of relaxation, togetherness, gravy, pie, seconds, football, and pie. And seconds. And pie. I ate so much, I actually got in a fight with myself!
“Ree! Why did you eat that eighth spoonful of mashed potatoes?!?”
“Leave me alone!”
“But why did you put whipped cream on your pie?!?”
“Leave me be!”
“This is your fault! You had a second helping of Missy’s sweet potatoes!”
“Actually, a third helping.”
“See?!? This is your fault!”
“You were there with me! It’s your fault, too!”
“Oh.”
I love it when I put myself in my place.
I was glad to have the chance to take photos of the kids! Alex was home, and it was nice having the gang all together.
Awwww. They’re big! And tall! Only Todd is keeping me from being the shortest person in our family.
If I had the emotional fortitude, I would put this photo next to a similar shot from a few years back. But I don’t, so I won’t.
Nostalgia pains me!
Thanksgivings at my in-laws’ used to be defined by the six adults chasing around the six children, filling kid plates, cutting up turkey into small bites, wiping mouths, and cleaning up the floor around the table.
Now they’re all self-sustaining humans (well…to a degree), with personalities all their own (personalities that can be deciphered through this photo, by the way) and while it’s absolutely painful to see how grown up they all are, it’s a wonderful feeling to see the people they’re becoming.
I’m thankful!
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
